Maria Westerståhl

Associate
BA (Hons) Dip. Arch RIBA

Originally from Sweden, Maria moved to New York in 1993 where she trained at Cooper Union and worked in various NY architectural practices. In 2001 Maria moved to London where she obtained her UK qualifications at the Bartlett School of Architecture, and joined Cottrell & Vermeulen in 2003. She has been an associate since 2007.

In her years with the practice, Maria has become a key member of the team. Working on Schools for the Future and the Reused House allowed her to gain essential insights into the implementation of cross-disciplinary approaches to design and construction, while her role as project architect for a range of educational and community projects has infused her with sound technical knowledge and skills in administration, team leadership, complex stakeholder negotiations, and a versatile approach to problem solving.

Maria is currently project architect for the new Compass School, a 600 place secondary free school in Bermondsey. Recent projects include the RIBA award nominated Lyndhurst Primary School and the award winning Ann Riches Healing Space and Roof Garden at the Royal London Hospital. Maria’s meticulous technical and organizational skills and professional approach are invaluable to running of these projects.

Alongside architectural practice, Maria maintains an interest in writing and cross-disciplinary work, pursuing a diverse range of interests that touch on materials in architecture, writing, spatial installations and film. Following early exhibitions and lectures at universities in the US, her work has in recent years featured in the Guardian, PUBLIC, at the University of Brighton and temporary exhibition spaces in London and Sweden.

In 2008, she completed a self-build with her partner, Luke Lowings, on a garage plot in North London. The space saving timber scheme is designed flexibly for an extended family and was featured in the press and Channel 4’s “Building the Dream”.